I’ve been meaning to write this post for ages. We’ve been sharing ideas on how to keep the kids busy over the summer holidays. We’ve shared all kinds of ideas from den building to geocaching, joining the Summer Reading Challenge to rock painting. Summer doesn’t have to be expensive and I will be trying my hardest to not spend too much this year. With two active children I need an endless supply of activities to keep them busy and one of our favourite low-cost activities is collecting free Blue Peter badges.

How to get free Blue Peter badges {and free entry to attractions}

I absolutely loved Blue Peter when I was growing up and it’s something my children enjoy today. It’s a great entertainment programme for children and perfectly age-appropriate, I don’t need to worry about them watching them and it’s always fun and inspirational.

As well as watching the show, you can play games and access more content via the website, join the Blue Peter Fan Club and of course apply for Blue Peter badges.

Although I never got a Blue Peter badge when I was a child, I was awarded one when I was an adult and helped with the programme. There are currently 8 badges you can apply for:

Blue badge

Blue badges are awarded for sending in interesting letters, stories, makes, pictures, poems, good ideas for the programme, and for having appeared on Blue Peter.

Green badge

Green badges are awarded for sending in letters, pictures and makes that are about the environment, conservation or nature.

Silver badge

Silver badges are awarded to Blue badge holders who go on to make an extra effort. My son was awarded his Blue badge for sending is a piece of art on canvas, so for his Silver badge he made a cartoon all about appearing on the show!

Purple Fan Club badge

Awarded for joining the Blue Peter fan club and answering some questions about the show and the website.

Music badge

The Music badge is a very special badge, designed by Ed Sheeran. It’s awarded to those who show off their passion for music by learning a new instrument or being part of a musical performance.

Sports badge

The Sport badge is awarded for getting active and trying a sport or physical activity that you have never tried before. Each year a new limited edition badge is released that is only available during the summer. This means you can collect a new Sport badge every single year! Hurry, the current one is only available until September 2020.

Orange badge

Orange badges are given to winners and runners up of Blue Peter competitions. To have a chance of winning one of these badges you have to enter a Blue Peter competition, which only run during certain times in the year.

Gold badge

Gold badges are very rare and only a few are awarded in exceptional circumstances for outstanding achievements each year. For example being solely responsible for saving someone’s life, or showing amazing and unique bravery, courage and citizenship. Or a high profile personalities who are considered to be role models, inspiring the nation’s children.

You must be aged between 6 and 15 to apply for a badge. Each badge has its own criteria so make sure you download the application form from the Blue Peter website before you apply.

What can you do with a Blue Peter badge?

My children wanted a banner to display their badges and they are currently hanging up where we can all see them. When they received their first badge they received the badge inside a Blue Peter envelope, a personalised letter, a newsletter and their Blue Peter card.

With the card Badge owners can gain free entry into over 200 Blue Peter Badge attractions around the country, such as theme parks, zoos and castles. We haven’t actually used the Blue Peter cards but they are a fab way to save money on days out!

With subsequent badges they’ve received the badge inside a Blue Peter envelope, a personalised letter and a copy of the most newsletter.

Applying for Blue Peter badges is free and fun. There are tons of ideas on the Blue Peter website and is something fun to keep kids busy. My 10 year is trying really hard to complete his set of Blue Peter badges by getting his Orange badge. My 8 year old is working hard for her Green badge.

Do you have any Blue Peter badges? Let me know if you do!